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Michigan's Icy Wonderland
Go north and explore the Wolverine State's Upper Peninsula Michigan's Upper Peninsula is one of the most isolated geographical regions in the nation. In winter, it's also one of the coldest -- and most beautiful. "You're going where?" was a frequent reaction to a proposed winter trip to visit family at a vacation home near Au Train, three miles from...

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'Nutcracker' cast may contain some surprises
Want to see media celebs like WAAY-TV's Erin Dacy, WZYP-FM's Mojo and even Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle in a ballet? Maybe in tights? Dacy - who actually takes ballet classes - Mojo and Battle will be making guest appearances in the new Huntsville Ballet production of "The Nutcracker" Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall....

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Starting to stuff our stocking: Reviews of new holiday recordings
Here's our wish list for Christmas: 1. Merry melodies. 2. Catchy lyrics. 3. Spiritual uplift. If you're hoping for the same things this year, an opinionated guide to new holiday music can help. Staffers at The Birmingham News (and a few family members) have been busy as Santa's elves, listening to 67 releases from a variety of artists, all of...

Mercedes to cut more jobs at Alabama plant

Mercedes-Benz plans to cut an additional 200 jobs at its
Alabama auto assembly plant by the end of this year, part of
the latest effort to bring production in line with slumping
global demand.

Officials at the German automaker's plant in Vance
met with employees Tuesday to announce a new series of
cutbacks that will go into effect next year. They follow a
similar set of measures implemented last year.

The plant now employs about 3,000 people and will offer
buyouts, as well as retirement and early retirement
packages, with the goal of cutting 200 jobs through that
process. There are no plans for layoffs, plant spokeswoman
Felyicia Jerald said.

The new cuts come as the plant is in the middle of a $290
million expansion of its body shop. The project, which will
help accommodate the next-generation versions of the
vehicles currently built at the plant, is expected to be
complete in 2011, when there are brighter forecasts for the
global auto market.

Meanwhile, the plant will remain on four-day work weeks
through the end of this year and for the majority of next
year, Jerald said. Four weeks of shutdown also are planned
for 2010, scattered throughout the year.

The plant also will combine its two paint shops, a move
aimed at saving energy and overhead costs.

Mercedes began paring its Alabama operations last year
amid a slump that has also forced to the state's other
two automakers, Honda and Hyundai, to make similar cuts.

Four-day work weeks started at the Mercedes plant about a
year ago and have been mostly ongoing since then. Other cuts
last year included a previous round of buyouts that shaved
the plant's work force by about 500 workers.

Buyouts, retirements and early retirements are available to the plant's full-time, permanent work force. Mercedes also eliminated its temporary work force last year but did not pinpoint the number of jobs lost in that cutback....

Mercedes to cut more jobs at Alabama plant

Mercedes-Benz plans to cut an additional 200 jobs at its
Alabama auto assembly plant by the end of this year, part of
the latest effort to bring production in line with slumping
global demand.

Officials at the German automaker's plant in Vance
met with employees Tuesday to announce a new series of
cutbacks that will go into effect next year. They follow a
similar set of measures implemented last year.

The plant now employs about 3,000 people and will offer
buyouts, as well as retirement and early retirement
packages, with the goal of cutting 200 jobs through that
process. There are no plans for layoffs, plant spokeswoman
Felyicia Jerald said.

The new cuts come as the plant is in the middle of a $290
million expansion of its body shop. The project, which will
help accommodate the next-generation versions of the
vehicles currently built at the plant, is expected to be
complete in 2011, when there are brighter forecasts for the
global auto market.

Meanwhile, the plant will remain on four-day work weeks
through the end of this year and for the majority of next
year, Jerald said. Four weeks of shutdown also are planned
for 2010, scattered throughout the year.

The plant also will combine its two paint shops, a move
aimed at saving energy and overhead costs.

Mercedes began paring its Alabama operations last year
amid a slump that has also forced to the state's other
two automakers, Honda and Hyundai, to make similar cuts.

Four-day work weeks started at the Mercedes plant about a
year ago and have been mostly ongoing since then. Other cuts
last year included a previous round of buyouts that shaved
the plant's work force by about 500 workers.

Buyouts, retirements and early retirements are available to the plant's full-time, permanent work force. Mercedes also eliminated its temporary work force last year but did not pinpoint the number of jobs lost in that cutback....